New & renewed: Pronto and Rocco's primed for slice of Fairfield pizza market

Andrew Brophy

Published 10:52 pm, Friday, August 2, 2013

Photo: Andrew Brophy

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Leno D'Arcangelo, left, and David Cervero in Rocco's, a longtime pizzeria known as the Apizza Center that recently underwent major changes to its menu and interior. A planned grand reopening will take place in September. FAIRFIELD CITIZEN, CT 7/25/13 less

Leno D'Arcangelo, left, and David Cervero in Rocco's, a longtime pizzeria known as the Apizza Center that recently underwent major changes to its menu and interior. A planned grand reopening will take place in ... more

New & renewed: Pronto and Rocco's primed for slice of Fairfield pizza market

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FAIRFIELD -- The town's oldest and newest pizzerias have something in common: They're celebrating grand openings in the next few weeks.

The Apizza Center on the Post Road near Grasmere Avenue, which opened more than 60 years ago, will hold a grand "reopening" in September after a name change to Rocco's -- and extensive changes to its menu and interior. Before that, Pronto Chop Shop & Pizzeria is scheduled to open Aug. 12 in the Brick Walk Shopping Center.

"It's a big deal, making the change," said David Cervero, who joined the new Rocco's as a partner to help Leno D'Arcangelo, its longtime owner, run the restaurant at 116 Post Road. "It's been a long time coming."

Cervero, who was a general manager at the Ash Creek Saloon from 2002 to 2009 before becoming an operating partner at The Shack until it closed six months ago, said changes to the Apizza Center include replacing booths with high-top tables, adding a 30-foot bar, a new roof, kitchen equipment, and the planned addition of a 30-seat patio.

It has remained open during renovations.

Menu changes include adding salads, appetizers, meatballs and sauces; pub fare, such as wings and nachos; and sandwiches.

"My goal with the menu was to keep what worked, and the pizza has always worked for years," Cevero said. "It still is the oldest pizza place in Fairfield. We'd like to keep that and keep the customers who have been coming here since they were little kids."

Bill Komenda, of Fairfield, said he's gone to the Apizza Center since the late 1960s, but has not seen how it's changed. He said he liked the Apizza Center because it was "like an old-school pizza place and everything was really good."

Meanwhile, Pronto is offering chopped salad on its pizzas, said Glenn Grella, of Fairfield, who will run the restaurant at 1241 Post Road with his wife, Mary, brother Dave and chef Nelson Martinez.

"There are a few people who do a salad pizza around, but I've never seen a chopped salad one," Glenn Grella said. "We'll have five different toppings as far as the lettuces you can choose."

Pronto will also offer grilled romaine lettuce, which involves brushing the lettuce with a light oil and seasoning. "The flavor that comes out of that is amazing," Grella said.

Pronto will seat 20 to 30 people inside, and outdoor seating is planned.

Hours will be Sundays through Wednesdays, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Thursdays through Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. For more information, check www.prontochopshop.com.